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Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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06 May 2009, 13:14

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Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C., the fact that the text of these Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right indicates that the Greeks adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries before these inscriptions were produced. After all, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and presumably, along with the alphabet, they also adopted the then-current Phoenician practice with respect to the direction of text. And although Phoenician writing was originally inconsistent in direction, by the eighth century B.C. Phoenician was consistently written from right to left and had been for about two centuries.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first and the second each describe evidence that has been used to challenge the position that the argument seeks to establish.(B) The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.(C) The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that is introduced to counter the force of that evidence.(D) The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish.(E) The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.

Re: Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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06 May 2009, 17:39

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neeshpal wrote:

Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C., a strong case can be made that the Greeks actually adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries earlier. Significantly, the text of these earliest surviving Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right. Now, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and in the process they would surely have adopted whatever convention the Phoenicians were then using with respect to the direction of writing. Originally, Phoenician writing ran in either direction, but by the eighth century B.C. it had been consistently written from right to left for about two centuries.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second reports a discovery that has been used to support a position that the argument opposes.B. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies.C. The first presents evidence that is used in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies.D. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is the position that the argument seeks to establish.E. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is evidence that has been used to support that position.

please explain...

Yes, the first bold-face is also the argument and its intention is to assert that the Greek adopted alphabetic writing 2 earlier from 8 century B.C, so:(C): 1st BF present evidence -->wrong

The second boldface has "would have" sounds like an assumption. Also:- Because Greek learn alphabetic writing from Phoenician, hence adopting their using of direction writing, and because Phoenician use either directions --> Greek would have use either directions- Because by 8 century B.C, Phoenician consistently wrote from right to left for about 2 centuries, then started to write either direction and because the evidence of earliest Greek inscription shows that they wrote in either direction --> earliest inscription of Greek couldn't appear at 8 century B.C but appear at 2 centuries earlier (in BC, the chronological is reverse) --> supporting the 1st BF

So:(A): 2nd BF support a position that the argument oppose --> wrong(D): 2nd BF is argument seeks to establish --> it is not an argument(E): 2nd BF is evidence --> no

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Re: Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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28 Oct 2009, 23:26

neeshpal wrote:

Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C., a strong case can be made that the Greeks actually adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries earlier. Significantly, the text of these earliest surviving Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right. Now, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and in the process they would surely have adopted whatever convention the Phoenicians were then using with respect to the direction of writing. Originally, Phoenician writing ran in either direction, but by the eighth century B.C. it had been consistently written from right to left for about two centuries.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second reports a discovery that has been used to support a position that the argument opposes.B. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies. CorrectC. The first presents evidence that is used in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies.D. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is the position that the argument seeks to establish.E. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is evidence that has been used to support that position.

Re: Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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03 Oct 2011, 01:55

Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C., a strong case can be made that the Greeks actually adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries earlier. Significantly, the text of these earliest surviving Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right. Now, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and in the process they would surely have adopted whatever convention the Phoenicians were then using with respect to the direction of writing. Originally, Phoenicians writing ran in either direction, but by the eighth century B.C. it had been consistently written from right to left for about two centuries.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A)The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.(B)The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which that argument relies.(C)The first is an assumption that the argument concludes is unjustified; the second presents part of the grounds for that conclusion.(D)The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.(E)The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a judgment that is introduced in order to call into question the relevance of that evidence.

Re: Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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02 Feb 2012, 09:09

neeshpal wrote:

Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C., a strong case can be made that the Greeks actually adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries earlier. Significantly, the text of these earliest surviving Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right. Now, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and in the process they would surely have adopted whatever convention the Phoenicians were then using with respect to the direction of writing. Originally, Phoenician writing ran in either direction, but by the eighth century B.C. it had been consistently written from right to left for about two centuries.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second reports a discovery that has been used to support a position that the argument opposes.B. The first is the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies.C. The first presents evidence that is used in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which the argument relies.D. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is the position that the argument seeks to establish.E. The first is an objection raised against a position that the argument opposes; the second is evidence that has been used to support that position.

please explain...

I agree with the reasoning. I was also inclined to chose B, but didn't choose for the reason:Assumptions are never cited in the passage.

Re: Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written [#permalink]

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17 Aug 2013, 20:56

The first bold faced argument is not a objection or a evidence so C, D, E are out.The second bold faced statement "they would surely have adopted" indicates a assumption...only choice b states the second bold faced statement as assumption...so IMO B
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